10 Biggest World Cup 2014 Flops
They dream all their lives about playing at the World Cup... and then spend the rest of it reliving the nightmares.
With every World Cup that passes, new talents are unearthed, splashed over the back pages, and linked with every Tom, Dick and Harry with a couple of spare dimes to rub together. However, at the same time, there are always the select few, pinpointed at the start of June as the members of the elite, who ultimately fail to deliver on the worlds greatest platform. Pundits and punters alike are usually left scratching their head in mid-July, wondering why certain superstars have faltered when granted the biggest stage to showcase their undeniable talents. In 2006, half of the Brazilian team were still daydreaming of the Copacabana beach, while the likes of Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi meandered aimlessly around South Africa for the best part of three weeks. While the new media darlings, including messrs James Rodriguez, Mario Gotze et al, soak up the adulation that comes with a debut tournament, we take a look at the so-called crème de la crème who will look back on Brazil 2014 with nothing but anguish and disconsolate regret.